DEAR SIR,
I am writing to let OFFBEAT readers
know that my appeal for the return of a lost colonial flag which was misplaced during
the PTU Charlie Company Farewell Happy Hour on 20 June in the Tsim Sha Tsui Officers'
mess has been found and returned to me.
This flag was a gift from a colleague who has since left the Force.
Of high sentimental value the colonial flag's return to me was greatly appreciated and
I thank the party involved.
Yours sincerely,
DEAR SIR,
I would like to thank and compliment the
officers of DATS Team 2 Yau Tsim District for the highly professional and competent way in
which they handled a case I was being blackmailed last October.
After reporting the crime to these officers, the case was cracked within 24 hours. My
thanks especially go out to two officers in particular, namely Detective Senior Inspector
Au Chin-chau and Detective Police Constable Lam Wai-fung.
Yours sincerely,
DEAR SIR,
I am a sergeant who has served in the
Force for 21 years. Recently I purchased premises through the Home Ownership Scheme
into which I expect to move in March 1998.
Before I go to the bank to apply for a mortgage, I have several questions to ask Police
Quartering Division which I believe are of common concern for many of my colleagues.
How many years of service should be required before an officer can successfully apply
for the Home Purchase Scheme?
Is there any amendment or re-assessment to the HPS in each two-year period?
Can the amount of the HPS be increased if the successful applicant is granted promotion
to a higher rank later?
I know that the Hong Kong Bank uses a plan of successive yearly increases for the amount
of refunds. Does the HPS follow this approach?
With the HPS, can mortgage repayments be made on other than a monthly basis?
Or is this against HPS restrictions?
Yours truly,
DEAR SIR,
A junior police officer may acquire the
eligibility for the Home Purchase Scheme (HPS) when reaching PPS Point 21 (the top salary
point for sergeants) or by completing 20 years of service, whichever comes first. As the HPS
is subject to an annual quota, an eligible officer may join the scheme only when his order of
priority reaches the top. An officer is normally required to wait five to seven years from the
date of attaining eligibility.
As regards to the questions on the specific rules, the answers are as follows:
Home Purchase Allowance (HPA) is subject to review as and when necessary. The
current scale of HPA was revised in January 1995.
After an officer has commenced to draw HPA, the prevailing scale of HPA applicable
to him will remain unchanged throughout his entitlement period. However, he may be eligible
to receive a higher rate of HPA on the same scale when he moves up his salary scale.
An officer is eligible to receive HPA either at this entitlement rate or at a rate equal to the
actual amount of his mortgage monthly repayment, whichever is less. Hence, other mortgage
repayment methods such as every two weeks, bi-monthly, and so forth are not permitted.
An officer may increase the amount of monthly mortgage repayments by shortening the
repayment period subject to the condition that the revised repayment period is not earlier than
the expiry date of the officer's 120 months entitlement period or the date of reaching his statutory
age of retirement, whichever is earlier.
If officers have any queries regarding the terms and conditions of the HPS or other civil
service housing schemes, they may contact Mr Lo Kam-chiu, SCO Quarters, on 2804-1430 at
any time.
Thank you,
DEAR SIR,
I write this letter in praise of the excellent
work of Traffic Hong Kong Island Police Constable who was extremely competent and helpful
during his handling of the traffic congestion which occurred at the junction of Pedder Street
and Des Voeux Road as a result of a fire near the Central waterfront on the morning of 5 November.
At that time, while the police constable (later identified as PC Tang Tin-yuen) was managing
traffic at that junction, he also took it upon himself to explain to motorists in a very sincere and
patient manner the reason for the traffic jam and delay. His professionalism and attitude served
to illustrate what a great police Force Hong Kong has - and could not help but make me proud
of our police just what a good job they do under all kinds of circumstances.
I thank the Police Constable.
Yours sincerely,
DEAR SIR,
I joined the Force as a Police Interpreter four
years ago and was posted to Cheung Sha Wan police station last year.
The factory air in Cheung Sha Wan is quite poor and led to my contracting a serious
respiratory infection.
However, my superior officers, who were concerned about the state of my health, agreed
to re-attach my posting to Shek Kip Mei police station where the quality of the surrounding air is
much better.
My ailment has become stable and I write to express my sincere thanks for their concern
and help.
Sincerely,
DEAR SIR,
Private cars owned by police officers are
sometimes used for official duties (such as anti-crime patrol, searching for witnesses and criminals),
under requisition made by their senior officers.
However, a problem arises in the event of a traffic accident because insurance companies may
not provide claim payments for vehicles which are damaged while being driven on official duties.
My question is whether the government will bear the responsibility of providing compensation
to the car owners if their insurance company doesn't?
I would also like to make the following recommendations:
A memo should be provided to police officers explaining what responsibilities they bear and
what compensation they should expect in the event of an accident while using a private vehicle for
official duties.
A formal order should be issued to proclaim that vehicles without appropriate accident coverage
are ineligible to take part in police operations or official duties.
Yours sincerely,
DEAR SIR,
I would like to thank the PC from SSPO
for his queries concerning the policy on the use of private vehicles for police purposes.
Police General Orders 18-25 is quite specific in explaining on what occasions private
vehicles may be used.
TPT Bureau is in the process on amending PGO 18-25 and paragraph 3 will be expanded
to read:
"It is the responsibility of individual officers who use private vehicles to ensure that their
vehicles are properly insured for use for police purposes. Except in urgent and extreme
circumstances a private vehicle for which the driver is claiming duty mileage allowance shall not
be used to follow or pursue a suspect vehicle. The Government has no obligation to pay for
damages to private vehicles which are used for police purposes, even though the driver is claiming
duty mileage allowance.
"Claims for payment of repairs to private vehicles used for police purposes are to be made
to insurance companies and through the civil courts. Except where the officer was engaged in urgent
and extreme police business involving the protection of life, the Government has no obligation to
provide legal assistance or advice. Even in cases where officers are protecting life, any assistance
or payment shall be at the discretion of the Secretary for Justice.
"Officers claiming duty mileage allowance should be aware that payment of the allowance
does not place on the Commissioner of Police or the Government any liability or responsibility for
any damage to the vehicle or injury to the driver, passenger or third parties. Neither is the
Commissioner of Police nor the Government liable to undertake legal action, pay legal costs or
damages awarded against the officer in any legal action, whether the officer is the claimant or claimed
against."
Should the PC concerned have any further questions relating to this policy I will be happy to
be of assistance and can be contacted on: 2860-3105.
Yours faithfully,
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